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......XB- 

3.2,13. 



Imprint. 



IB — 47372-2 OPO 



KEPORT 



rO THE 



CITY COUNCIL or PROVIDENCE, 



PRESENTED JUNE 1, 1846, 



BY THEIR COMMITTEE, APPOINTED SEPTEMBER 3d, 1838, ^ TO SUPE RINTEND 
THE ERECTION OP 



SCHOOL HOUSES; J 



ON THE RE-ORGANIZATfbN OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

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PROVIDENCE: 

?R1NTED BY KNOWLES AND VOSE. 

18 46. 



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REPORT. 



To the City Council of the City of Providence. 

The undersigned, members of a Joint Committee, appointed 
by the Cily Council, in the year 1838, to contract for. and su- 
perintend the building of the public school houses then ordered 
to be erected, respectfully submit the following Report : — 

Presuming that a portion of the present members of the City 
Council are not familiar with the proceedings which led to the 
appointment of this Committee, the undersigned have deemed 
it proper briefly to refer to these proceedings, before entering 
into a detail of the manner in which they have discharged 
their duties, which continued through several successive years. 
On the ninth day of April, 1838, an Ordinance was passed by 
the City Council, providing for a re-organization of the Public 
Schools of the City ; and on the fourth day of June following, 
Messrs. Thomas R. Holden and Joseph Cady, of the Board of 
Aldermen, and Messrs. Edward P. Knowles, Henry Anthony, 
Amherst Everett, John L. Hughes, David Andrews, and Erastus 
F. Knowlton, of the Common Council, were appointed by the 
City Council a Joint Committee to make investigations rela- 
tive to the alterations and improvements which were required 
on the school houses and estates then occupied ; and to ascer- 
tain what other lots and buildings would be necessary to carry 
out the provisions of the Ordinance. 



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That Committee were instructed to report by bill, to embrace, 
as nearly as might be, an estimate of the amount of the expen- 
diture required for the department of Primary and Grammar 
Schools, and of the High School. They were also empower- 
ed to cause a set of school house drawings to be made to ac- 
company their Report. 

Tims instructed, your Committee entered upon the discharge 
of their duties. In the course of a month they completed 
their survey, and made a Report, fully describing the condition 
of the several school houses and estates, and recommending 
the erection of new School Houses in all the school districts in 
the City. They did not, at that time, make any report upon 
the other branch of the subject referred to them ; but requested 
permission to raise a sub-committee from their number, to visit 
the Public Schools in Boston, Salem, Lowell and New Bed- 
ford, to examine the construction of School Houses, and the 
style and arrangements of seats and desks, in order that they 
might be enabled to recommend a set of plans for School 
Houses, embracing the most important improvements which 
had been made in school house architecture. 

That request was granted, and their sub-committee visited 
Boston, Salem and Lowell, and examined the construction of 
the ].ublic school houses in those cities, and made a full report, 
which was presented to the City Council in connection with 
the Report of the whole Committee, recommending the style 
and size of the buildings for" the Grammar Schools, and also 
for the Primary Schools. Both these Reports were accepted, 
and were ordered to be printed for the information of the 
citizens. 

AccomiJanyiiig these Reports, the Committee submitted a 
draft of certain Resolutions which, after much discussion and 
some modifications were adopted and passed by the City Coun- 
cil on the third day of September, 1S38, as follows : 

I,'fsoh-"f Tliat Mossrs. Edward P. Knowlcs., Henry An- 
thony, Amherst Everett, John L. Hughes, David Andrews, 
and Erastus F. Know) ton, from the Common Council, and 
Messrs. Thomas R. Holden, and Joseph Cady, from the Board 



of Aldermen, be and they are hereby appointed a Committee 
to cause such of the present School Houses to be removed or 
taken down, and such new School Houses to be erected and 
furnished, as may be necessary to carry into full operation the 
Ordinance entitled " An Ordinance in relation to the Public 
Schools," passed on the 9th of April, 1838, and in conformity 
to the Report of a Joint Committee, this day made and receiv- 
ed, whenever the locations of such new School Houses shall 
be designated by the School Committee ; and also to make and 
enter into, in the name of the City, all necessary contracts for 
materials and labor for said buildings. 

Resolved, That said Committee be and they are hereby au- 
thorized and empowered to cause any of such new School 
Houses to be erected on any lands now belonging to the City, 
which the School Committee may designate ; and also to pur- 
chase, for the use of the City, any other lands for said purpose 
which, they, together with the School Committee, may deem 
advisable ; and also to sell, in the name of the City, any of the 
present School Houses and estates which they may deem ad- 
visable to sell, and which can be legally sold ; and in case of 
any such sale or sales, the City Treasurer for the time being, 
is hereby authorized and directed, under the direction of said 
Committee, to execute good and sufficient deeds conveying all 
the right, title and interest of the City in any land or lands so 
sold. 

Resolved, That said Committee be and they are hereby au- 
thorized and empowered to raise by loan or loans, for the use 
of the City, a sum or sums of money sufficient for carrying 
these Resolutions into full effect, not exceeding forty thousand 
dollars in the whole, at such rates of interest as they may deem 
advisable, not exceeding five per cent, per annum, the principal 
to be paid at such times as they may deem advisable, not how- 
ever at shorter periods than one third in ten years, one third in 
twenty years, and one third in thirty years ; the interest to be 
paid annually. 

We insert these Resolutions, in order to show how extensive 
were the powers and duties of the Commitee ; and also to show 
that they have not, in any one case, either transcended their 
powers, or neglected to discharge their duties as faithfully as 
the circumstances would permit. 

Soon after the appointment of the Committee, they met for 
organization ; and Thomas R. Holden was chosen Chairman, 
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and Amherst Everett, Secretary. Tlie whole Committee was 
divided into sub-committees, and a particular portion of the 
work reciuiring immediate attention, was assigned to each sub- 
committee. 

Subsequently thereto, David Andrews and Amherst Everett 
resigned tlieir appointment as members of the Committee ; 
and Seth Padelford was appointed in place of David Andrews, 
and was also appointed Secretary, in place of Amherst Everett. 
A full record of the proceedings of the General Committee has 
been kept, and is herewith submitted for examination. 

From this record, some idea of the time and labor devoted by 
the Committee, may be gathered. They held twenty-nine 
meetings for business, besides almost an e(|ual number of in- 
formal meetings for consultation, of which no record was made. 

At an early meeting, the Chairman, Thomas R. Holden, was 
appointed Auditor of all accounts made by the Committee; 
and the Secretary was not authorized to draw any orders on 
the City Treasurer for the payment of any bill which had not 
been examined and signed by the Auditor. An accurate ac- 
count of all moneys expended by the Committee has been 
kept, and is herewith submitted for examination. 

The Committee, having visited Boston, Salem, Lowell, and 
Charlestown, accompanied by an £u:chitect, for the purpose of 
examining the public school houses in these places, obtained 
drawings of the latest improvements which had been made in 
the construction of school houses. They also caused a full set 
of drawings to be made, exhibiting the exterior and interior of 
a house for a Primary School, and also of a house for a Gram- 
mar School. To these drawings were appended full and mi- 
nute specifications of the size, the materials, and the style of 
the work recpiired. 

The Committee then advertised for proposals for building 
the new School Houses according to the plans and specifica- 
tions exhibited ; and after an examination of the different pro- 
posals submitted to them, it appeared that Messrs. Tallman & 
Bucklin had offered the lowest terms. Consequently contracts 



were made with them for the erection of three Primary School 
Houses, at twelve hundred and fifty dollars each ; and of five 
Grammar School Houses at seven thousand five hundred dol- 
lars each ; all to be completed and furnished ready for the re- 
ception of the schools. 

Messrs. Andrews &, Palmer erected the School House in the 
Third Ward for Messrs. Tallman &> Bucklin, at the same price 
which the latter received ; viz. f 7,500. 

These School Houses were all to be built in the best man- 
ner ; and no work was to be paid for until it had been examin- 
ed and approved by persons agreed upon by the contracting 
parties. They were all completed in the early part of the 
year 1840, and were examined and approved. 

In the course of the next year, (1841,) the Grammar School 
House in the Second Ward was built by Messrs. J. H. & E. 
Martin & Co. ; and the East street and the Transit street Pri- 
mary School Houses by Messrs. Bushee & Carpenter. 

In the following year, (1842,) the Committee having caused 
to be made a full set of drawings and specifications for the 
High School building, advertised for proposals for erecting the 
same. They received six proposals; the highest being ,f 18,- 
100, and the lowest $14,975. Messrs. Andrews & Palmer 
having presented the lowest terms, according to the specifica- 
tions, a contract was made with them, and that building was 
completed the next year. 

The Primary School House, on Federal street, was built 
the same year by Messrs. Tallman <fc Bucklin. 

It is important to state here, that the Committee found it 
necessary, in the progress of building several of the School 
Houses, to make slight alterations in the contracts, in order to 
render the Houses better suited to the wants and conveniences 
of the schools. The plan for the arrangement of the seats 
and desks in all the Grammar Schools was changed ; which 
besides rendering the rooms more convenient, will accommo- 
date about thirty pupils more in each school. 

This arrangement was attended with some additional ex- 



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pense. It was found necessary to make several alterations in 
the original plans of the High School. One was to carry up 
the walls one foot higher than specified ; another, to place 
granite blocks in front of tlie building instead of grass banks; 
because the space left between the walls of the building and 
the street was too narrow to admit of a grass bank. Several 
other alterations were made with the approbation of the Com- 
mittee ; all of which enhanced the value of the buildings, and 
of course somewhat increased their expense. 

The Committee felt that they ought not to leave these es- 
tates as finished, without setting trees around them ; and ac- 
cordingly they caused about one hundred and fifty trees to be 
set in and around the School House lots, most of which are 
now growing well. 

Having completed their Report relating to the erection of the 
buildings, the Committee have prepared, and here insert, an 
account, showing the amount of all monies expended by them, 
and the cost of each School House estate. 



ACCOUNT OF THE COST OF SCHOOL HOUSES, &c. 



HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. 

For lots on Benefit, Angell and Water- 
man streets, of Mrs. Sarah Thomp- 
son, 5,600 00 

Andrews & Palmer's bills for building, 

&c. 15,984 79 

Samuel Lewis's bill for curb stone, 66 42 

H. Mumford's bill grading, labor, (fcc. 21 66—21,672 87 



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GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE IN FIRST WARD. 

For lots adjoining old School House 

lots to Thomas L. Halsey, Esq. 1,737 23 

Tallman & Bucklin, bill for building 

house, &c. 7,980 31 

Daniel A. Sweet, bill of curb stone, 67 75 

" " " stone steps, 38 50 

John Barney, bill for work done, 45 20 

F. P. Durfee, bill for stone, 27 00 

S. R. Weeden, bill of stone for well, 6 50 

Ingalls & Gushing, bill of furnace, 
fixtures, &c. 198 83 

Pardon Clark, bill for painting fences, 
&c. 138 55 

Thomas Sekell, bill re-building fur- 
nace, &c. Ill 76 

Nathan Simmons, bill of labor and ma- 
terials for fences, 88 91 

Increase Sumner, bill carting gravel, 
&c. 43 08—10,483 62 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE IN SECOND WARD. 

For lots on the corner of Angell and 

Prospect street, to Richard Carrique, 900 00 

Richard & Rufus Waterman, 1,900 00 

J. H. & E. Martin, and Sekell & Mum- 
ford, bills for building house, &c. 8,130 02 

Ingalls <fc Gushing, for furnace, fix- 
tures, &.C. 100 84 

S. B. Gushing, bill for surveying, &c. 12 50 

Thomas Sekell, bill for grading lot, 77 89—11,121 25 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE IN THIRD WARD. 

For lot on Arnold and Brook street, of 

John Whipple, Esq. 840 00 

Andrews & Palmer, bill for building 

house, &c, 8,152 50 



10 

George H. Peck, bill for filling in ; 

earth, «fcc. 198 60 

Daniel A. Sweet, bill for curb stone, 50 54 

J. Morgan, bill of stone for bank wall, 10 25 

A. Ellis, for taking down bell and put- 

ing up do. 2 96 

John A. Townsend, bill for painting 

fences, «fcc. 123 11 

Ingalls & Gushing, bill of furnace, 

fixtures, 6lc. 138 38 

H. W. Bradford, bill of lime for point- 
ing well, 2 00 

John Barney, bill for laying stone wall, 27 51 

D. Gallagher, bill for stoning well, 13 33 

Thomas Sekell, bill for re-building 

furnace, &c. Ill 76 9,670 94 

[This House was left unpainted, and of course about $150 
should be added to its cost, in order that it may be fairly com- 
pared with the others.] 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE IN TOURTH WARD. 

For lot on Fountain street, to Pardon 

Taber, 1,000 00 

For do. do. E. Tourtellott, 547 40 

For do. do. Thomas Brown, 500 00 
Tallman &. Bucklin, bill for building 

house, &c. 7,945 70 
Increase Sumner, bill for filling in 

gravel, &c, 119 98 

Daniel A. Sweet, bill of curb stone, 92 75 

Massa Bassett, bill of labor paid, (kc. 11 72 

Shaw »fc Gray, bill for painting fences, 104 00 
Ingalls &/ Gushing, bill for furnace, 

fixtures, (kc. 163 47 
Thomas Sekell, bill for re-building 

furnace, 11176—10,596 78 



1,287 00 


418 00 


8,085 92 


123 00 


60 00 


9 85 


142 64 


205 14 


3 75 



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GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE in FIFTH WARD. 

For lot on Elm street to. Pardon Clark, 
For do. do. H. Bassett, 
Tallman «fc Bucklin, bill of building 

house, &c. 
C. B. Manchester, bill for filling in 

gravel, &c. 
S. H. Andrews, bill for digging well, &c. 
Daniel A. Sweet, bill for curb stone. 
Pardon Clark, bill for painting fences 
Ingalls & Cushing, bill for furnace and 

fixtures. 
Increase Sumner, bill for carting gravel, 
Thomas Sekell, bill for re-building 

furnace, &c. Ill 76—10,447 06 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL HOUSE IN SIXTH WARD. 

For lots on Summer and Pond street of 

Joseph K. and Amey Angell, 650 00 

Tallman &• Bucklin, bill for building 

house, &c. 8,121 49 

Andrews & Gilmore, bill for gravelling 

cellar, 11 77 

E. A. Durfee, bill of stone; and laying 
the same in bank wall and foun- 
tain ; also, a cap stone, 262 08 

John Everton, bill for filling in lot with 

gravel, 909 00 

Massa Bassett, bill for labor paid, &c. 11 72 

Daniel A. Sweet, bill of curb stone, 103 92 

Ingalls & Cushing, bill for furnace 

and fixtures, 167 90 

Thomas Sekell, bill re-building fur- 
nace, 111 77 

Chace »S6 Penno's bill, for painting fences, 95 23 

bill, 14 86—10,459 74 




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P&IMARY SCHOOL HOUSE IN FIEST WARD. 

Lot leased of the Commissioners of the 
Dexter Donation Fund, 

Tallman & Bucklin, bill for building 

house, &c. 1,277 70 

N. G. Helme in relinquishment of his 

lease of said lot, 25 00 

Pardon Clark, bill for painting fences. 179 80 

Increase Sumner, bill for carting grav- 
el, &c. 29 83 1,512 33 

PRIMAJIY SCHOOL HOUSE IN THIRD WARD, ON TRANSIT STREET. 

Bushee &. Carpenter, bill for building 
School House on old School House 

lot, 1,584 40 

Increase Sumner, bill for carting grav- 
el, &c. 12 50 1,596 90 

PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE IN THIRD WARD, ON EAST STREET. 

For lot of Williams Thayer 425 00 
Bushee & Carpenter, bill for building 

house, &c. 1,200 00 

do. do. do. fence 229 16 
John A. Rowland, bill for cylinder 

stove, (fee. 33 81 
J. A. Townsend, bill for painting fence, 

&c. 54 00 1,941 97 

PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE IN SIXTH WARD. 

For lot of S. Rawson, on Federal 

street, 1,000 00 

Tallman «fe Bucklin, bill for building 

house complete, 1,850 00 ^2,850 00 



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PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE IN SIXTH WARD, ON KNIGHT STREET. 



For lot of Tristam Burges, on Knight 
street, 

Tollman &- Bucklin, bill for building 
house. &c. 

John Everston, bill for filling in grav- 
el, &c. 

Chace & Penno, bill for painting fen- 
ces, &c. 



250 00 
1,277 19 
32 00 
45 35 1,604 54 



PRIMARY SCHOOL HOUSE IN SIXTH WARD, IN OLNEYVILLE. 

For lot of Asa Bosworth, 225 00 
Tallman & Bucklin, bill for building 

house, 1,297 72 

Jarvis Hopkins, bill for filling in gravel, 90 00 

Chace & Penno, bill for painting fences, 75 16 1,687 88 

SUNDRY CHARGES, NOT DIVIDED AMONG THE ESTATES, VIZ : 

Examining titles, surveys, &c. 88 13 

Lightning Rods for Primary School 

houses, 
Furniture, 

Protecting old School Houses, 
Trees, and setting the same, 
Fences, not included in contracts. 
Superintendence, and other work not 

included in contracts, 

Received for old School Houses, 

Drawn from the City Treasury, $100,060 92 

This Committee cannot willingly close their Report, with- 
out referring to a few points of more general interest. Public 
opinion on the subject of Schools and School Houses has 
greatly changed since their labors were commenced. At that 
time, many good men honestly disapproved of the plan of fur- 
3 



258 57 




53 00 




11 86 




228 79 




2,350 88 




1,874 31- 


-4,865 64 


$100,411 42 
350 50 



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nishing so good, and consequently, so expensive, a system of 
public instruction. 

By a very natural transition, a part of this oppositicn to, and 
dislike of, the public school system, was transferred to the 
Committee who were charged with carrying its provisions, for 
buildings, into effect ; and the Committee were much bhimed 
for causing so large, so durable, and of course, so expensive, 
buildings to be erected for the acccmmcdation vi the schools. 

They acted according to the best of their judgment at the 
time, and believe that the course they pursued on this subject 
has been fully approved by a very large majority of the citi- 
zens. They are of opinion that if the question were to come 
before the public again, still larger, more durable and more or- 
namental buildings would be ordered, rather than a cheaper 
and less permanent class of houses. 

Although the sum above shown to have been expended for 
School Houses, is really very large, yet it is confidently be- 
lieved to have been a very good investment for the City, con- 
sidered in a pecuniary point of view alone. The school sys- 
tem has very justly been regarded "as an alleviation of one of 
the heaviest burdens put upon the middling and poorer classes 
iti the community." And although tlie increase of taxation, 
which was immediately required by so great a change in our 
system, may have been a cause of some complaint to the own- 
ers of real estate, ytt we have no doubt that a careful ex- 
amination of the whole subject will lead to the conviction, that 
all the money which has thus been paid by that class of our 
citizens, has been returned with increase. 

In the course of this Rejiort, reference has been made to the 
changes which were caused by the resignation of some mem- 
bers of the Committee and the election of others. 

The Committee cannot take their final leave of this subject 
without referring, in the most respectful manner, to one of their 
associates suddenly removed from them in the midst of his la- 
bors and usefulness. 

In the death of Erastus F. Knowlton, Esq., the Commit- 



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tee was deprived of one of its most valuable members, the 
cause of education of an ardent friend, and the community of 
an excellent citizen. 

John L. Hughes, Esq., who was an active and efficient mem- 
ber of the Committee, and whose unwearied exertions for the 
improvement of the Public Schools will long be remembered, 
has removed from this City, and now resides in the City of 
Philadelphia. 

Respectfully submitted, by 

THOMAS R. HOLDEN, Chairman. 

EDWARD P. KNOWLES, 

JOSEPH CADY, 

HENRY ANTHONY, 

SETH PADELFORD, Secretary. 



City of Providence. 

I7i City Council, May 11, 1846. 

Resolved, That the arduous and gratuitous labors of Thomas 
R. Holden and Joseph Cady, late Aldermen ; and of Edward P. 
Knovvles, Henry Anthony, Amherst Everett, John L. Hughes, 
David Andrews, and Seth Padelford, late of the Common Coun- 
cil, and of Erastus F. Knowlton, deceased, late of the Common 
Council, who constituted the Committee of the City Coun- 
cil, under whose supervision and direction, the commodious, 
permanent and tasteful buildings for Public Schools in the City 
of Providence, from the years 1838 to 1844, were erected, de- 
serve a grateful public acknowledgement ; to render which, 
the City Council hereby direct this expression thereof to be re- 
corded upon their Journal, and to be printed together with the 
Report of said Joint Committee. 

Resolved, That the Report of said Joint Committee to su- 
perintend the building of Public School Houses, &c., made to 
this City Council, March 9, 1846, be referred to said Commit- 



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tee, together with the Mayor and Clerk of the Common Coun- 
cil ; after the same lias been revised by said Committee, to 
cause two thousand copies thereof to be printed in form and 
style like the City Ordinances, and to be distributed for public 
use. 

A true copy : Attest, 

ALBERT PABODIE, City Clerk. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



029 452 385 6 



